Page 27 of A Sense of Paradise
‘What it must be to have connections,’ Pawson said, grinning. ‘You want me to stay?’
‘Unless Rochester decides otherwise.’
‘Detective Chief Inspector Rochester and Sergeant Salter, my lord,’ Draper said from the open doorway.
‘Thank you, Draper.’ Archie leaned heavily on his cane as he stood and stepped forward with hand outstretched. ‘Lord Riley. Sergeant. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?’ he asked, indicating chairs in front of the fireplace. ‘This is Pawson,’ he added, indicating his man, who remained standing against the bookcases.
Both detectives nodded to Pawson and the sergeant took up a position directly across the room from him, eyeing him suspiciously as if battlelines had been drawn. Archie and Lord Riley took chairs facing one another at much closer quarters. Archie felt curious rather than defensive and passed the time of day with Lord Riley, a man whom he respected, until Draper returned with coffee and biscuits fresh from the oven.
‘Thank you, Draper.’
Archie served the coffee and Lord Riley’s sergeant seemed a little less dour when he caught a whiff of cinnamon. He took no persuading to help himself to biscuits. Archie stirred his coffee and leaned back in his chair, sipping at it as he waited for Lord Riley to get to the point.
‘Jacob Yardley,’ he said.
Archie flexed a brow, his curiosity invoked. ‘What has he done to attract the interest of a senior London detective? And more to the point, how does it involve me?’ Archie had been aware of Lord Riley’s close scrutiny as he spoke but didn’t feel the need to defend himself.
‘I regret to inform you that he’s dead.’ Lord Riley paused. ‘He was brutally murdered.’
‘In that case I am sorry. I can’t say I liked the man, but no one deserves to be murdered, brutally or otherwise.’ Archie took a sip of his coffee and put the cup aside. ‘But I still fail to see what this has to do with me. Presumably you have come down here to look at his property and talk to his people, but even so…’ Archie spread his hands and allowed his words to trail off.
‘I understand that you and he were involved in an altercation.’
‘Ah.’ Archie permitted himself the suggestion of a smile. ‘The man was making a nuisance of himself, bestowing attentions upon a lady who did not welcome them and refusing to desist when she asked him to.’
‘Miss Latimer.’ Lord Riley smiled. ‘We have just come from her residence.’
‘Flora?’ Archie sat forward. ‘You will be aware that her disgraced father and the bishop joined forces in an effort to persuade her to accept him. Fortunately, the lady has better sense.’
‘You’re close, are you?’ Sergeant Salter asked.
Archie frowned. ‘What has that to do with anything?’
‘It was an observation, that’s all.’
‘And an astute one,’ Archie said nothing more. He transferred his gaze from Lord Riley’s pugnacious sergeant back to Lord Riley himself, waiting for him to get to the point.
‘Yardley was sent away from England by his father after the incident.’
Archie raised a brow. ‘You are aware of his parentage?’
‘The bishop himself told me, and Miss Latimer confirmed the fact.’
‘I see. Yes, I knew that he had been banished but I have no idea where he went.’
‘Miss Latimer showed some animation when I mentioned that he had recently returned from France. When I asked her to clarify her concerns she referred me to you. But first, I should mention I am here because Yardley was attacked at night in Salisbury a week ago. Last Thursday to be precise. I have to ask where you were on that day.’
‘In Swindon,’ Archie replied without hesitation, ‘helping my friend Luke Beranger to prepare for his nuptials. I’m sure almost all of the Earl of Swindon’s close family will confirm that if necessary.’ He paused to lift a brow in polite enquiry. ‘Am I a suspect?’
Lord Riley smiled. ‘Not remotely. But a gentleman answering your description, and a very accurate description it was too—down to the silver handle of your cane I might add—was seen by a witness to the attack. Since it was gone midnight and pitch dark in the alleyway where Yardley was set upon and the alleged witness told me the colour of your eyes, I realised very quickly that someone was attempting to make trouble for you, but I would be failing in my duty if I did not question you on the matter.’
‘I see.’ And Archie did see, all too clearly. ‘Things make a great deal more sense now. As a matter of fact, if I did have reason to kill Yardley, I’m afraid to admit that my incapacity would make it impossible for me to do so in such a brutal way, so whoever is attempting to make me look responsible clearly overestimates the extent of my physical abilities.’
‘They have heard about your altercation with Yardley and are using it to try and discredit you,’ Pawson said from his place at the side of the room.
‘Precisely so.’ Archie paused. ‘You and I both know, Lord Riley, that gossip is sufficient in itself to ruin a man’s reputation in our circle. It doesn’t need to be based on fact. Where would be the sport in that? Several old acquaintances whom I haven’t seen since my return to England turned their backs on me at Luke’s wedding. I couldn’t decide what I had done to offend them at the time but I now have a better understanding.’
‘One of our set is behind the killing and chose the target precisely because your disagreement with Yardley is common knowledge,’ Lord Riley suggested. Standing against the wall, Lord Riley’s sergeant let out a grunt, as if he expected no less from members of England’s aristocracy.
